Source: Album Artwork
The north of England has always been a hub for those particularly creative individuals keen to push the boundaries. Weirds are no exception to that fact with the way they channel vintage psych-rock, infused with modern know-how, to create something fresh and compelling.
Their debut album, Swarmculture, is a true testament to their vision. There’s an immediate atmosphere created as the album begins, with ‘Things That Crawl‘, as listeners are thrown into the very deep end of Weirds’ strange little world. There’s a considerable use of distortion, as is common in this sort of genre, meaning that the finished product is hazy as well as immersive.
‘Valley Of Vision‘, the lead single from the album, is a weighty, steady jam. Lead singer Aidan Razzall leans on the grit in his voice to carry the vocals, which are unintelligible at times but that’s what makes the material so unique.
While Swarmculture is a symbol of amazing progress for Weirds, it still occasionally misses the mark with less memorable tracks like ‘Black Desert‘, which at times is grating, and ‘Crows‘, which seems to fall flat in comparison to the rest of the record. Yet, the album’s flaws cannot distract from everything Weirds do right with this album— it is, without a doubt, a well-rounded debut that will become a staple in the band’s success.
